Heater



H. D. EATON Dec. 3, 1929.

HEATER Filed June 17. 1926 Patented Dec.' 3, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HAROLD D. EATON, OF LA IP'ORTE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO BASTIAN-MORLEY CO., OF LA PORTE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF INDIANA HEATER Application led June 17,

This invention relates to, a fluid heater, more particularly a heater of the storage type, wherein an electric current in passing through a resistance or resistance unit is utilized as the heating means.

One vobject of the invention is to provide a heater of this type that is relatively simple yin construction and readily installed.

are attained.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved heater of this type in which maximum circulation of the fluid along or relative to the heating unit is eHected whereby the heat energy is fully absorbed to rapidly heat the entire body of water and coating or lining on the resistance unit is eliminated.

A further object of the invention is to construct an electric fluid heater in which the electric resistance and the riser tube surrounding it are suspended in the upper portion of the body of water, whereby precipitated matter which may collect in the bottom of the container will not affect the operation of heating or the removal of the resistance and tube. f

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved means for supporting the resistance and riser tube whereby they may be readily assembled and removed.,

Other objects' ofv the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention relates from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is al side elevation of a heater embodying my invention,fparts being broken away to facilitate the illustration.

, Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view, partlyin section, of the electric heating unit, riser tube l and supporting means therefor.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

1926. Serial No. 116,615.

Fig. 4 is a view, partly in section, of the thermostat mechanism and switch.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on the line- 5-5 of Fig. 4.

In the drawings, 1 indicates as an entirety a container or receptacle for fluid of `any desired size and construction, but preferably of cylindrical shape, having a bottom end wall l, a side Wall 1b and a top end wall 1. Each of these walls preferably consist of inner and outer members disposed in spaced relation so that the intervening space between them may be filled with a suitable non-heat conducting material (such as cork or liber) 2 to provide suitable insulation, for well known reasons. The bottom end wall 11y and top end wall 1 are formed with openings 3, 4, respectively, the purpose of which will later be set forth.

The container 1 may be supported on a plurality of legs 5 or other equivalent supporting means.

The inner wall or member of the bottom end wall 1a may be of convex shape to avoid the collection of precipitated foreign matter around its central portion, or that portion through which the opening 3 extends, so that the latter will not become clogged.

6 indicates as an entirety an electric heating unit mounted in the opening in one of the end walls of the container 1, preferably the top end wall 1 and depending downwardly therefrom. 7 indicates as an entirety a riser d tube surrounding and associated with the heating unit 6, also depending downwardly relative to the top end wall l". When these parts are arranged in this manner, as shown in the drawing, a sectionof tubing or pipe 3a extends downwardly from the opening 3 through the bottom l, and is connected at its loweil end to a laterally extending pipe 8 carrying a suitable valve 9; this form of construction thereby serving as a drainage means for the container 1. The pipe 3a is suitably connected to the inner member of the wall 1 to insure a li uid tight joint. When the heating unit 6 an riser tube 7 are mounted in the bottom end wall la, the pipe 3 is arranged at one side of the opening for these parts or the supporting means'therefor.

yofsupply for the fluid, such' as water, and

leading into the container 1, being preferably extended downwardly to a' point relatively close to the bottom end wall 1l thereof. The

pipe may lead through the top end wall 1c. 11 indicates an outlet pipe leading from the upper portion of the container 1 and con nected to the service system (not shown). In the illustrated formof construction the outlet pipe -11 leads through the top end wall 1. The heating unit 6l and riser tube 7 are supported in' the opening 4 in the following I I manner: 12 indicates a bung fitting mounted liquid tlght joint. As shown in Fig..2, the

upper end of the riser tube 7 telescopes into. the inner end of the bushing 13 so that 'it may be supported thereby, the bushing being preferably rabbeted to receive such end. As illustrative of one means for securing the riser tube inthe bushing 13, I provide the side wall of the rabbeted' portion and the outer wall of the tube 7 adjacent its end with screw threads, whereby they are rigidly, and at the same time removably, connected t0- gether. At its outer end, the inner wall of the bushing 13 is provided with screw threads 15, by means ofwhich a separate bushing 16 may be removably mounted therein; the body portion of the latter is of polygonal shape, whereby it may ,be engaged by a suitable tool to enable it to be positioned and removed. The opening through the bushingl is of a size to receive the upper end of the heating unit 6, whereby it may extend from within the container 1 to the outside and thus support the leads 17 andprovide a conduit therefor from the coils 17 which form a resistance withincthe heating unit, to suitable terminals 18 mounted on the exposed end of the heating u'nit 6. The terminals 18 are connected -by wlres 18* to the supply mains 19, one of the wires having leads 20 connected to the terminals 21 of an electric switch 22. The switch 22 is operated by an operating mechanism, indicated as an entirely at 23, and the latter is controlled by a suitable thermostat, indicated as an entirety at 24.

The heating u nit 6 preferably comprises a the wall of which is relatively thin and formed from metal which has a relatively. high co-etlicient of heat conductivity, such as brass, and closed at its lower end by a brass plate 6*,1and a plurality of coils 17al (already lreferred to) or a plurality of pairs of coils each of which is connected together `at its lower or free end (see Fig. 3), so as to of the coils may be insulated from the end wall or plate 6 by sheets of mica. A s shown in Fig. 3, the coils 17 are arranged in an annular series so as to dispose them in close relation to the wall of the tube 6'L and all equal distance therefrom to the end that the heat energy radiating from the coils maybe uniform in all directions. The upper ends of the coils 17a terminate at a point remote from the upper end of the tube 6al to prevent overheating of the water in the upper portion of the container 1.

The upper ends of the coils 17 are connected to the leads 17, each of which comprise a rod of Monel metal extending through al tubing 17b preferably formed from suitable insulating material, such as pyrex, being su ported at their opposite ends by blocks 117 of suitable material anl held in position by nuts .threaded on their outer ends. The space within the tube 6, surrounding the tubes 17b may be filled with suitable insulation and non-heat conducting material such as ground or meal asbestos. lThe blocks 17c may be secured to the tube 6 in any desired manner.

The riser tube 7 consists of a shell, by preference, formed from b ass, extending longitudinally of the heating unit and downwardly beyond its free end, being open at its lower end to admit the water and direct it upwardly. While the shell 7 extends downwardly toward the bottom l, it is spaced therefrom a sufficient distance to prevent (a) the sucking or drawing up of mud and other foreign matter which may collect thereon and which if drawn up with the rising water would increase the tendency of liming on the tube '6* and (b) drawing up of an undue quantity of water which would reduce the circulation and hence cause overheating of the water in the upper portion'of the container 1 prior to the heatin of the water in the lower portion thereof. t its upper end the tube 7 is provided with a pluralityof openings or slots 7 around its circumference, these slots being elongated longitudinally of the tube and of a size to permit of maximum circulation of the water. The shell 7 is somewhat larger in diameter than the tube 6'* so as to provide an annular circulating Aspace'around the latter, these elements'being proportioned to permit the circulation of sufficient water to insure the absorption of all the heat energy transmitted or given off by the resistance coils 17 and at the same time insure a relatively fast flow or current of the heated water upwardly through the shell to the openings 7, whereby coating or liming of the tube 6L is prevented land the rising portion of the Watei` is rapidly replaced by the cold water below with the result that all of the water in the container 1 is rapidly heatedto the maximum-temperature.

The thermostat 24 preferably extends in a diametrical direction across a portion of the container 1 and in the lower portion thereof, but above the lower end of the tube 7. To permit of this arrangement, the opening 4 for the mounting of the heating unit 6 and riser tube 7 is larranged at one side of the axis of the container 1, as will be understood from -Fig. 1. The thermostat 24 may comprise a opening in the bushing 26 which is fitted and p secured lin al liquid tight manner in the side wall 1b. The operating mechanism in the illustrated form of construction comprises a base 23a carrying a bracket 23 on which is mounted a lever 27, preferably consisting of two arms 27, 27". The arm 27b is disposed in the path of movement of the thermostat rod 24h, so that the latter may engage with and operate the arm 27b in a direction towards the right as viewed in Fig. 4. 28 indicates a coiled spring disposed between an abutment 28a and lthe arm 27 a and 'normally tending to move the latter toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 4, to maintain the arm 27b in engagement with the inner end of the rod 24", whereby theA latter may positively control the movement of the lever 27. The rod 24b and lever arm 27b may be operatively connected by a balland socket joint 27', of the form and construction disclosed in a copending application filed by me and Simon L. Lonergan, of'La Porte, Indiana, jointly, on January 2, 1926, Serial No. 78,886, for which reason further illustration and description of this connection will not be necessary. '29 indicates a coiled spring pivotally connected at one end to the upper or free end of the lever arm 27a. At its other end, the springi29 is pivoted to a switch blade or lever 30, forming one of the elements of the electric switch 22. The switch lever -30 is pivoted at 31 on a bracket 31a supported at its opposite ends by the base 23a and an insulating. block 23, the latter forming a mounting for the terminals 21 to which the Wires 20 are connected. The switch blade 30 is arranged, when moved to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, to engage with a pair of contacts 32, electrically connected to the terminals 21, so as to bridge the circuit across these contacts and thus close the circuit through the wires 2O and leads 18'd1 to energize the resistance coils 17a. The bridging section of the lever 30 is insulated from its body portion by insulation 30. As `will be noted inl Fig. 4, when the tube 24a expands, due to rise in temperature of the water in the container 1, the rod 24b is moved endwise toward the left, and the spring 28 will swing the lever 27a to its extreme left position (see Fig. 4) the arm 27n in turn will swing the spring ,29 to a point at one side of the pivot 31 for the switch blade 30, the effect of which, due to the tension of the spring 29, will be to swing the switch blade toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 4 and thusbreak the circuit; when the tube 24a contracts, due to cooling of the- Water in the container 1, the rod 24b will be moved toward the right, as viewed in Fig. 4, and thus swing the lever 27a to the position shown in dotted lines, the effect of which will be to move the Yyspring 29 to the opposite side of the pivot 31 and thus swing the switch blade 30 to its dotted line position, thereby closing the electric circuit. This construction and arrangement insures a snap action in closing and opening the circuit.

In my construction of heater, the heating unit and riser tube -are so mounted that both may be assembled in operative relation before installing in the container or the tube 7 may first be positioned therein and then the heating unit may be positioned therein. Likewise, the heating -unit may be removed and then the riser tube removed; or both may be removed together. These operations are provided for by mounting the tube on the inncr end of the bushing 13 and securing the' heating unit 6 to a 'separate bushing 16 which also removably engages therewith. Accordingly, if the heating unit 6 is in assembled relation to the tube 7, both may be positioned in the container 1 o r removed therefrom at a single operation by the screwing of the bushing 13 into the bung fitting 12 or yunscrewing it therefrom.

By supporting the heating unit and riser tube in the top wall of the container so that they depend downwardly therefrom all danger of mud and other foreign matter collecting around the joint between their supporting means and the wall of the container and obstructing the flow of water into and' through the tube is eliminated,l since it enables both the heating unit and tube to extend downwardly the maximum distance and at the same time be outof contact with the bottom 1a.. Therefore the bottom does not carry any upwardly extending parts that would (al.)L form or constitute walls for the foreign matter to accumulate around or to dispose suoli matter in the pat-h of the induced current of water rising in the tube 7, or (b) affect the free circulation of water from the outer portions of the container inwardly into the lower open end of the tube 7. Accordingly, all danger of liming on the resistance unit tube with resulting loss of heat conduction andr radiation is avoided.-

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications' of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. My disclosures and the delscription herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

W'hat I claim is:

1. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a container having to and bottom end walls, said top end Wall eing formed with an opening through it havin a screw threaded inner wall, a bushin threa ed into lsaid opening, the inner wa l of said bushing being threaded adjacent its inner and outer ends, a riser tube having screw threads at one end and threaded intothe inner end of said bushin and extending therefrom longitudinally 0% the container, a separate bushingthreaded to the outer end of lsaid first mentioned bushing and a heating unit supported at one end in and extending through said separate bushing, said unit fitting within and extending longitudinally of said tube and forming therewith an annular circulation space.

2. In apparatus of the class described, the combination( ofa container having vtop and 'v bottom end walls, said top wall being formed bushing .and thesupper end of the heating ywith a central opening, a bung fitting mounted in the opening in said top wall, a bushing revided with screwthreads on its inner wall ad- `acent its inner and outer ends, a. separate ushing threaded into the outer end of said irstA mentioned bushing, a heating unit y ffl. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which the resistance elements comprise a plu' rality of coils extending longitudinally of said tube and arranged in an annular series concentric to its side wall. 4

5, In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a container having -to and bot-tom walls, said top wall being forme with a threaded opening, a Vbushing threaded into said opening, a tube telescopically fitted at its upper end 1nto said bushing and extending therefrom downwardly longitudinally 'of said container, a separate supporting element voutlet openings near its upperend.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name. f

, HAROLD D.-' EATON.

movably itting said bungl fitting and promounted in and extending through said separate bushing, and a shell threaded at its upper end into the inner. end of said lfirst mentioned bushing and depending downwardly therefrom in concentric relation to said heating unit, said shell being formed with openings between its connection with said unit.

3.v In apparatus of: the class described, the combinationof a container having side, top andA bottom walls, a circulation member mounted at its upperend in said top wall and f,

lower-en ata voint remote from the end wall, an

dependin therefrom and terminatin at its an electric heating unit mounted at its upper end in said top and depending therefrom and extending substantially through and concentrically of said circulation member and in spaced relation thereto, said unit lcomprisinga tube closed -at its .ends to formanv air chamber and having relatively thin walls whereby the heat con ucted therethrough serves to heat the water in said circulation member and resistance elements -in said chamber, and said circulation member having spaced outlet openings in its side wall at its upper end. 1

ttom s 

